Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-16

when 8 o'clock came Mrs. Lamingtor
mad to come in search OF her 10 TAXI
her in to tea. With the evening came
music. May still further enchanted
Walter by singing. with a clear accent
and rich expression, some old English
ballads, which he had not often heard
before.
He was conscious OF the ndeflablC
impression May Templcton had made
upon him rs he walked home along the
moonlit pavement He tried to deceive
himself.
"He had often been caught before,
he muttered. "by pretty face and a
bewitchinR tongue, bat had never failed
TO sleep of his emotion.
But morning found him as preoccu'
pied with Miss May Templeton--hON
she looked, what she said, and what she
sang AS the night. When, as the days
passed, he could not absorb himself in
hls books or the arguments in the court
be got angry with himself.
alt has ever been a first principle
with me that it is only given to heirs OF
acres or consols, the sons of dukes or OF
cabinet ministers, to marry young. /;
is not night for a man who has to make
his way in the world to take unto him
self a wife Just as lac is making a start.
Il is unjust TO her because she has h.
share his struggles aud strivIngs, aad it
is unfair to himself because 1t encum-
bcrs him in the race at the beginning.
A man should first make u start and
get on TO the high road. have not
even done that yet, and, il | ever do,
my bymcreal age will be past. Yet
here am held fast by the first fair face
after my birthday reformation.
No doubt this was hnmillating con-
f,ssion. But Walter did not cure him
self Of bis folly. During the autumn
he sought Mrs. LamingtOn's drawing
room again and again, whenever he
knew or thought May Tcmpleton was
to be there. The "midnight oil was
abandoned for the ballroom glitter.
The courts were leftto get on rs well as
they could without him, while he
strolled in the park or made morning
calls. 1t was very silly of hin. He was
twcnty.seven and she was not twenty
one he had graduated in the univer5i-
ty of life, while she had only Just left
school-but there--the explanation can
be left un,ald, and no excuse can be
offered.
One morning he found Mrs Laming-
ton in her sltting-roOm discussing with
May the latest marriage in their circle
Of acQuaintances. The bridegroom was
a young artist still living haul to
on the Bloomsbury dealers.
The failing of his friend was an coca
sion for Walters philosophy.
"Moncrieir must be mad. He is
aspires to be Independent,
vet famous as an artist. Yet he rashly
enslavcs himself for an income by
taking wife and setting up an estab-
Why couldn't they have
waited until he could be Independent
Of 'pot-boiling and superior to
dealers ?-shc inspiring him and he
for the future. But no, ar
rived at maturity. he has rushed into
aud probably doomed him
sllf 10 life of mortified ambition.
Walter delivered himself of this ex-
ordium with much feeling, for it Wa
his constant endeavor to convert Mrs
Laminptou to his utiitirianism. it
was not Mrs. Lamington, but May,
however. who replied 10 the attack
"Mr Dicby, I dctest your doctrine.
is it not heresy to the poetry Of youth ?
Marriage to the truly ambitious mind
/ do not use the word in its ignoble
,cnso-is not matter Of pounds, shii-
lings. and pence. 10 be entered into ct
the most convenient season, when the
wodding-cake can be the mosteXpcnsiVe
aud the breakfast the most elaborate.
the honeymoon the mostluXnrious, aud
the establishment the gandoSt. Mar
iiace, if it really springs from pure
love, must como at the Psychological,
not the political moment
Nay paused and blushed rs il
ashamed Of her vchcmence.
You take the correct pootical view
# it, May but what about the practi
raj {? inquired Mrs. Lamington, who
was not sure that poctical considera-
iions would have any effect upon Wal
ier's stoical spirit, even though they
were pleaded by May Templeton.
- attack MIR. Digby," May smiling
" replied, con tie practical as well as
fine Doetical aspect Oi the SUBJECT. He
rightly speaks OF q woman's inspiration
10 a mans effort, but cannot this in
spiration bo conveyed in the love Of
wife as well as of a f0actc! Does the
love which lures men to Inspiring
tolls, in the inflated language of Claude
Melnotte. cease or diminish with the
HONEYMOON ? Would the inspiration
be less cilicacious or sustaining because
il would be always available ?"
Much more did May say in her warm
advocacy, every word Of which 50 EN-
tered the soul Of Walter that as he was
leaving he could not refrain from say
ing:
"You have completely conqueredme,
Nav. bv Your cloquence. 1 am con
yert TO ycur views from this day"
He lett the house with very plea
,urahle sensation. He could not help
that there was a hidden siSni-
fconce in Nays words-the first sud
len manifestation of her feelings for
him. And naturally daring the next
few davs be was afflicted 10y Alternating
bores and fears. The fourth put him
out of his suspense. He was alone with
May for precious half-hour at Mrs.
I.amipatons, in which passed from her
bps the only secret which, accorllnSto
the Professor at the Breakfast Ia
be. most women have 10 tell Walter
was rccklessly happy and VAS anxious
TO Iccant, by his own act, his former
heresy as soon as possible.
With this purpose in view he readily
accepted Mr.. Tompleton's invitation to
q small dinner party. He had through
the instrumentality OF the matrimonial
mediator, Mrs. Lamington, been pres
ant on several such occasions, aud had
eagerly seized suchOpportunities OF IN
with May as offered. lie
had, moreover, become welcome
yuest at Mr.. Templeton's table-a cool
headed, cynical man OF business, who
.nioved. nevertheless, after-dinner PHI
.osonhy - by his clever converse
ION at wine. This evening, however,
when the hostess and her lady guests
had retired to the drawing room, he
-elonsed into n stolid silence. He was